Area restriction rescinded for Goodlow wildfire

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has cancelled an area restriction for a wildfire northeast of Fort St. John near the Alberta border. 

On June 24th, the BCWS announced the cancellation of an area restriction order in the Prince George Fire Centre for the Alces River area. 

The order was in place due to the Goodlow wildfire, which has burned 4,460 hectares as of June 24th and has been categorized as ‘being held.’ 

As of 2 p.m. on June 24th, the area restriction order will be rescinded, but BCWS stated it could be reinstated if conditions change. 

In a press release, BCWS recommended caution for anyone entering the area as the dangers of post-wildfire environments such as flooding, damaged trees, ash pits, unstable terrain and flooding can persist for years.

“If smoke is rising from well within a fire’s perimeter and the area is surrounded by black, burned material – this is typically not a concern,” the service stated. 

“However, smoke rising from green, unburnt fuel or from outside a fire’s perimeter should be reported immediately.”

According to BCWS’s website, the service currently has firefighting personnel, helicopters and heavy equipment responding to the blaze.